Combination tool



April 28, 1970 F, MILLER 3,508,455

COMBINATION TOOL Filed Feb. 16, 1968 INVENTOR JOHN E M/LLER l i I BY m ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,508,455 COMBINATION TOOL John F. Miller, 2543 Nokomis Ave., St. Paul, Minn. 55119 Filed Feb. 16, 1968, Ser. No. 705,995 Int. Cl. B25b 13/00 U.S. Cl. 8158.1 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention discloses a combination tool including an elongated tool body such as a screwdriver or the like which rotates about its axis. An axial multi-sided socket is provided in the end of the tool body. A handle attachment includes a multi-sided axial projection engageable in the socket and is provided with a rotatable knob supported on its other end. A ratchet wrench encircles the multi-sided shank between the tool body and the handle attachment. If desired, an extension member may be attached between the handle attachment and the tool body.

This invention relates to an improvement in a combination tool and deals particularly with a tool which may be used to apply pressure and torque to a screw, bolt, or other threaded object.

Various types of tools have been produced which incorporate, as an example, a screwdriver having a square shank, and a wrench which is engageable on this shank, and which is capable of increasing the torque which may be applied to the shank to thread or unthread a threaded fastener or the like. The advantage of a tool of this type is believed obvious. However, there is a disadvantage of many of the previous tools which have been produced. For example, certain of the screwdrivers and similar tools which have been previously produced include a wrench encircling the shank of the tool which cannot be readily removed therefrom. If the wrench is capable of being removed, in order to use the tool in the normal manner without the wrench, it is necessary to slip the wrench from the screwdriver shank, replace the screwdriver, and use it in the normal manner to complete the operation. In some instances, particularly when the slot of the screw being moved, or the head of the nut being removel, is hidden from view, considerable time is required to remove the screwdriver 0r socket wrench, detach the wrench used to apply torque to the shank of the tool, and then to replace the tool for normal operation. It is a purpose of: the present invention to eliminate such previous difiiculties.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a tool such as a screwdriver having an axial multi-sided socket in the handle end. While this socket might be hexagonal, octagonal, or other shapes, for the purpose of simplicity the socket has been shown and will be described as being square in cross-section. This socket is so located that it does not interfere in any way with the normal operation of the screwdriver. On the other hand, as will be shown, it permits a pressure applying member to be attached thereto.

The second member of the combination is preferably a rod or shank having a rectangular end designed to fit into the socket in the handle end of the screwdriver. The outer or opposite end of the shank rotatably supports a knob which may be held in the hand of the operator for applying axial pressure to the screwdriver while permitting the rotation of the screwdriver in either direction by the wrench. This knob normally fits against the palm of the hand in operation so that axial pressure may be applied to the tool. At the same time, the knob may rotate freely with respect to the shank so that the rota- 3,508,455 Patented Apr. 28, 1970 tion of the tool does not impair rotative movement to the portion of the tool held in the palm of the hand. In other words, the palm of the hand is not rubbed or abraded by rotation of the operating part of the tool.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a combination of the type described which includes a screwdriver or similar tool, attachment including a shank supporting a rotatable knob or handle, and a ratchet wrench which may be used to rotate the tool attachment, and accordingly the screwtdriver or similar tool. The square shank of the tool which fits into the socket in the handle end of the screwdriver is made somewhat longer than the depth of the sprocket. As a result, the ratchet wrench may be applied to the shank between the handle end of the screwdriver and the body of the pressure applying shank. Thus, while axial pressure is applied to the screwdriver through the rotatable ball, the attachment shank, and the screwdriver, rotative force may be applied to rotate the attachment, and accordingly, the screwdriver attached thereto.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a device of the type described which may include an extension between the handle end of the screwdriver and the handle attachment. In such an arrangement, the extension is provided with a square shank designed to extend into the socket in the end of the screwdriver, and a square socket at its upper end designed to accommodate the square end of the shank of the attachment. The arrangement is such that the ratchet whench may be applied to the square end of the shank of the attacment so that rotative force may be applied through the extension and through the screwdriver or similar tool.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

FIGURE 1 is a perpsective view of my combination tool in readiness for use.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view through a portion of the screwdriver handle, the ratchet wrench, and the rotative knob on the end of the attachment.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view showing the manner in which the rotatable knob or handle may be attached to the end of the attachment shank.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a tool which may be used in place of the screwdriver and which may form a socket wrench for engaging a nut or the head of a bolt.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of an extension which may be used between the tool and the attachment where such a tool appears to be desirable.

At the outset, it is evident that the present invention could be applied to various tools which rotate about the axis of the tool. The screwdriver is perhaps the most common example of such a tool, but tools having shanks to which various wrench sockets may be attached are other examples. Therefore, while the present device is particularly designed for use on a screwdriver, this screwdriver will be described as a tool so that other types of tools may be used in place thereof. Furthermore, the attachment which extends axially to a socket in the screwdriver will be described in general as a handle attachment. The third necessary element of the combination has been shown as a ratchet wrench. In view of the fact that ratchet wrenches are well known in the art, the manner in which the wrench operates has not been illustrated as the details form no part of the present invention.

As indicated in FIGURE 1, the tool A is shown as a screwdriver having a generally cylindrical handle portion 10 and a shank 11 projecting axially therefrom and flattened at its extremity to form a screwdriver blade 12.

The end 12 may also be shaped as a Phillips type screwdriver if so desired.

As is indicated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, the handle end of the screwdriver A is provided with a socket forming member 13 axially located in its handle end. The socket forming member '13 may include a multisided shank 14 which is embedded in the handle of the screwdriver and which is shaped to prevent rotation of the socket forming member 13 with respect to the handle :10. A socket portion 15 of somewhat larger diameter is provided at the end extremity of the handle forming member 13. A hollow rectangular aperture or socket 16 is provided extending axially into the socket forming member 13.

The attachment 17 is shown as including a cylindrical shank 19 having an axial square shank 20 extending from one end thereof. The distance between the free end of the rectangular shank 20 and the shoulder 21 which defines the connection between the square shank 20 and the cylindrical shank portion 19 is considerably greater than the depth of the socket 16. Thus when the square shank 20 of the attachment 17 is fully inserted into the socket 16, a partial length of the square shank 20 may be exposed.

The end of the attachment 17 opposite the square shank 20 is provided with a reduced diameter cylindrical shank portion 22 which is coaxial with the cylindrical shank 19. A shoulder 23 is provided between the reduced diameter shank portion 22 and the cylindrical body 19 of the shank. An externally threaded sleeve 24 is provided having an integral nut or multi-sided flange 25 at one end thereof. The internal diameter of the sleeve 24 fits snugly about the reduced diameter shank portion 22 of the attachment 17 with a rotary sliding fit. A peripheral groove 26 is provided near the upper end of the shank portion 22. The proportions are such that when the threaded sleeve 24 with its multi-sided end 25 are positioned upon the reduced diameter end portion 22 of the handle shank 19, the groove 26 is exposed beyond the threaded sleeve 24 and a snap ring 27 may be engaged in the groove 26 to hold the threaded sleeve from axial movement relative to the shank 22.

A knob or ball 29 is provided with a radially extending internally threaded aperture 30 extending thereinto. The threaded sleeve 24 may be threaded into the socket 30 of the ball 29 to hold the ball attached to the sleeve 24. As a result, the ball 29 and the sleeve 24 attached thereto may rotate freely relative to the reduced diameter end portion 22 of the shank 19, permitting the knob or ball 29 to be held against the palm of the hand without rotation while the remainder of the attachment 17 is free to rotate.

The ratchet wrench B is of conventional form, including a ratchet element 33 to which is attached a generally radially extending handle 34. The handle 34 may be pivoted to some extent about a pivot axis 35 relative to the ratchet element 33. The arrangement is such that rotation of the handle B may be arranged to rotate the attachment shank in either direction while permitting relative rotation between the parts in the reverse direction of rotation. In view of the fact that ratchet wrenches are well known in the art, further explanation is believed unnecessary.

FIGURE 4 illustrates in general a tool C which could be substituted for the screwdriver A if the device were to be rotating a nut or bolt head. A tool C includes an elongated shank 36 having a socket 37 in one end designed to accommodate a bolt head or nut, or else the shank of a detachable socket forming member which may, in turn, engage the nut or bolt. The opposite end 39 is of enlarged diameter and includes a socket 40 designed to accommodate the square shank 20 of the attachment 17. If desired, the rectangular shank 20 of the attachment 17 may be provided with a spring urged ball detent 41 to tend to prevent the removal of the shank 20 from the socket forming member 13 when engaged therein.

FIGURE 5 of the drawings, discloses an extension forming member D which may be used between the tool, such as A, and the attachment, such as 17. The extension D includes a generally cylindrical shank 42 having an enlarged end 43 from which projects a square shank 44 which is coaxial with the shank 42. The square shank 44 is of proper dimension to fit into the socket 16 of the screwdriver A, or into the socket of a similar tool C. The opposite end of the shank 42 is enlarged as indicated at 45 and includes an axial square socket 46 which is designed to accommodate the square shank 20 of the handle attachment 17. The socket 46 is of proper depth to permit a portion of the square shank to be exposed. As a result, the ratchet wrench B may be interposed on the square shank 20 between the extension D and the attachment 17 to permit rotation of the tool by rotation of the ratchet wrench.

I claim:

1. A combination tool device including:

an elongated tool body having an axially rotatable shank,

an axial multi-sided socket in one end of said shank and coaxial with said shank, said socket having its base at a predetermined distance from said one end of said shank,

an elongated handle attachment including a handle shank,

a multi-sided axial projection on one end of said handle shank of a length substantially greater than said predetermined distance to provide an exposed portion on said projection between said one end of said tool body shank and the remainder of said handle attachment,

a bearing knob rotatably supported in coaxial relation to said handle attachment and held from axial movement relative thereto,

a ratchet wrench removably encircling the exposed portion of said projection and freely rotatable between said one end of said tool body shank and said remainder of said handle attachment, and

an operating handle on said wrench by means of which said wrench may be rotated.

2. The structure of claim .1 and in which said operating handle extends generally radially from said multi-sided axial projection.

3. The structure of claim 1 and in which said tool body comprises a screwdriver.

4. The structure of claim 1 and in which said tool body comprises a socket wrench.

5. A combination tool device including:

an elongated tool body having an axially rotatable shank,

an axial multi-sided socket coaxial with said shank,

a handle attachment including a handle shank,

a multi-sided axial projection on one end of said attachment shank engageable in said multi-sided socket,

a bearing knob rotatably supported in coaxial relation to said attachment shank on the other end thereof,

a ratchet wrench removably encircling said multi-sided axial projection between said handle attachment shank and said socket, and

an operating handle on said wrench by means of which said Wrench may be rotated,

said handle shank including a relatively small diameter axial shank projecting from said other end thereof,

an externally threaded sleeve encircling said small diameter shank and rotatably supported thereby,

means holding said sleeve from axial movement on said small diameter axial shank, and

said bearing knob including an internally threaded 6 socket threadedly accommodating said sleeve and 2,612,807 10/1952 Hunt 8158.1 rotatable therewith. 1,772,524 8/1930 Seidemann 81---58.1 2,672,066 3/ 1954 Sandrock et a1 81---58.1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 JAMES L. JONES, JR., Prlmary Exammer 569,955 10/1896 Chesney 145-71 US. Cl. X.R.

1,601,767 10/1926 Peterson 81-581 145-70 

